SRINAGAR (KIMS) — The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday announced a 100 per cent fee waiver for students belonging to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families studying in Classes 9 to 12 in government schools and undergraduate courses in government degree colleges across the Union Territory.
The School Education Department, in an order issued on July 8, accorded sanction to the grant of full fee waiver for AAY students studying in Classes 9 to 12 in all government schools of Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect as a welfare measure aimed at promoting equitable access to education.
Under the order, eligible students must belong to households covered under the AAY and possess a valid AAY ration card or any other document prescribed by the government.
Eligible students will be exempt from payment of all fees levied by government schools. However, fees payable to any outside statutory authority or examining body, wherever not within the competence of the School Education Department to waive, will continue to be governed by applicable rules unless specifically exempted by the competent authority.
The Higher Education Department has also ordered a full fee waiver for undergraduate students from AAY families studying from Semester 1 to 8 in government degree colleges across Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect.
According to the order, the waiver will apply to all government degree colleges functioning under the administrative control of the Higher Education Department. Eligible students must belong to AAY households and possess a valid AAY ration card or any other document prescribed by the government.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the decision fulfilled a key commitment made in the Budget and would ease the financial burden on economically vulnerable families.
“The Government today fulfilled a key Budget commitment by announcing a 100% fee waiver for students belonging to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families studying in Government Schools (Classes 9–12) and Government Degree Colleges across Jammu & Kashmir,” Abdullah said in a post on X.
“This landmark decision will ease the financial burden on the most economically vulnerable families and ensure that no deserving student is denied access to quality education due to financial constraints,” he added.
Education Minister Sakina Itoo also announced the implementation of the full fee waiver, saying the decision reflected the Chief Minister’s commitment to ensuring that no child is deprived of education due to financial constraints.
“I am delighted to announce the implementation of a full fee waiver for AAY students studying in Classes 9th to 12th in Government Schools and Undergraduate students in Government Colleges across Jammu & Kashmir,” Itoo said in a post on X.
“This landmark decision fulfills the commitment made by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Jb Omar Abdullah Sb, and reflects his unwavering vision of ensuring that no child is deprived of education due to financial constraints,” she said.
Itoo said the government remained committed to making quality education accessible, affordable and inclusive for every deserving student, describing the initiative as another significant step towards building an equitable and empowered Jammu and Kashmir. — (KIMS)